And a Good Time Was Had by All

Jenna and the kids got here on Thursday at about noon. So excited for them to be here. We are planning on canning chicken and beans and scrapping and, and...big dreams for two crazy women with five kids five, four, two three year olds, and a seven month old. We are constantly feeding, bathing, refereeing. When bed time rolls around were dead. We talk every day about maybe watching a movie (ha ha). They have been to the park, to Troy's, to the park, to the park for Trentin's birthday party, to play, around the block and that was all before noon today. This afternoon we went to my mom and dads and they ran and played hard there, too. Gunnar was mad this evening when he reminded his mom that we haven't been to the park like she promised. Oh, did I say that Weston, David and Troy came up from the Valley to work on Saturday and we've been doing dinner for them every night, too. Holy Hannah!!

Saturday was Trentin's birthday party and we started out at the park. Nice all day until we get there and the dang wind came up so then we moved the party back to my house and grilled the hotdogs and burgers there. He had a fun day and was so excited about his birthday presents. He got a gun (his favorite), a blue razor scooter, a spider man car, a motorcycle, a race car and his mom and dad got him a batman cave (everyone's favorite). The kids have played non-stop twenty four/seven.

They make me tired and they make me laugh. I LOVE being Mo Mo Sadie to this bunch. What a blessing!

He's 3

Trentin turned three yesterday. He has been so excited to have a birthday since he was in the valley to celebrate Bailey and Gunnar's birthdays. He had an idea that birthday means presents and insisted that Santa would be bringing them and FUN! Finally it was two weeks then a week then two days before his birthday. On two days before I said , "guess who's having a birthday in two days?" - he got a grouchy look and tone and told me his birthday would be in "two weeks!!!" arguing only made him madder :o( On Monday I said, you have a birthday tomorrow and he seemed pretty excited. On Tuesday when I sang "happy birthday to you....and had the line you belong in a zoo" he smiled.

Trentin is so sweet. He is super shy and pretty laid back. If he's in the mood, he will terrorize Kamryn until there are tears (usually ends up with both of them in tears). He loves ANIMALS. I watch him talk to Ali and I've caught him more than once petting and talking to her and then giving her a kiss, yes a kiss and yes, on the lips! He calls himself Trentin dooey and it melts my heart when he says his prayers and blesses Trentin dooey. He loves his mama and his daddy and Kamryn. He loves his Aunt Jenna and Uncle Weston. He's an outside kid and is pretty stubborn about potty training. He's so close and yet so far. He is dead-serious when he is telling you something. He gets his feelings hurt and he is stubborn about admitting he did something he shouldn't. He is cuddly and he tickles me when he says something and then quickly adds, "right, Mo Mo Sadie, right?" He was doing good in Nursery then he missed a few times and now I can't get him to stay. He comes to my class or stays at home with his dad. He is smart, he is kind, he is shy, he is loving, he is a joy and a blessing. I am once again humbled at the blessing of being a grandmother and on his special day, his grandma, his "Mo Mo Sadie" - I don't know where the time went but he was born, one, two and now three. I close my eyes and he's grown.

Bailey again :o)

Talking to Jenna Thursday morning she said that on Wednesday evening she and Chelsea went for pedicures and took Bailey with them. The time that Jenna and I took Bailey and Kamryn with us Bailey WOULD NOT let them close to her to even polish her nails. This time, however, while waiting in the chair next to Jenna, Bailey demanded they put water in her chair, too. Well this spunky 3 year old just had her first mani/pedi spa time with her mother. (Jenna was not so happy about the $20 price tag for this particular mommy/daughter date). Bailey got her nails painted purple (her favorite color) and as she left, told the girls that she would see them tomorrow. I asked Jenna today if they have been back for their "touch up" and she quickly told me "NO"... she said that Bailey has a chip in her polish and wants to go see "the girls" again.

You NEVER know what Bailey Boo will say or do and that makes my heart :o)

Love you Bailey.

3

She's three. Bailey is the quirkiest, funniest, most adorable little thing ever. You never know what she's going to say or going to do, just be prepared and enjoy the ride. Some of the stuff she comes up with absolutely makes me laugh so hard. This morning she had her mother making "old milk" for breakfast. Translated, Jenna was actually making oatmeal. She loves ice cream, princesses, the color purple the color pink, her brother and her baby sister. Her daddio is the man in her life and she LOVES food. Her blue eyes and blond hair are gonna cause some trouble down the way. Right now Weston is pretty laid back, but I see some changes coming when she gets a little older :o) I LOVE how she has started liking me. She wasn't willing to share her princess power bed with me for awhile but now she's ok with it. She gets mad and just calls me Sadie. She has melt downs that leave you speachless. She owns the rights to "drama queen". She's a girly girl and a tomboy when she has to be but mostly a girly girl. She LOVES dress up and bling. She's bossy and in charge. She painted my toenails once and was quite bossy about where to put my feet and what I was to be doing or not while she was at work. Love her and love her personality because she truly makes me laugh.

5

He's five. I told him on this birthday that the day he was born I fell in love. I truly did. I had no idea you could love a grandbaby this much and when the next one came it happened all over again. I love Gunnar. He has been my buddy since he was big enough to know me. He named me Mo Mo Sadie. He loves to have me sleep with him in his room. He is sweet and kind and bright and I could go on forever. This is his last year of being totally protected. Once he starts kindergarten his world will grow some more and I personally am worried I might not stay on his favorite list and that bothers me. I am selfish and readily admit it. I LOVE it when Gunnar is excited to see me. I LOVE it that I created the "ice cream and french fries" from In & Out as our place to go. I LOVE it that he loves his family and he loves his cousins. I LOVE it that he LOVES others. I LOVE it that I have been blessed to be his grandmother. His BLUE eyes bring you in and hold you. His heart is soft and big and he is a tease and he is a pleaser and a trickster. He is Gunnar - he is LOVE.

Uncle Bobby

My mom's older brother, Bobby Gilliam passed away early Christmas morning. He had been diagnosed with cancer early summer and not too long ago the drs told him there was nothing else they could do for him. He spent the remaining time getting ready to leave. His family became his care-takers and they did a wonderful job.

I spent some wonderful hours with him recently and I know that he was ready to go. As bittersweet as it was to lose him on Christmas, it was comforting to know that he had a wonderful reunion on the other side Christmas morning. I envy him getting to be with Grandma and Grandpa again. I MISS them so much. There absolutely were no two better people in this world than Grandma and Grandpa Gilliam.

My mom was heartbroken and my tears were for her. Her brothers teased and played with her but every one of them treated her like their own princess. They protected and adored their sister and she loved her brothers. Mom and Uncle Dennis are the last two of her family and the sad realization is that their time here is short.

I will miss my Uncle Bobby and his sense of humor. He was a good man and I love him. I am blessed with good people on both sides of my family. I am thankful for my ancestors - oh what a blessing they are!

Christmas Here and Gone

I don't know how it happened but all of a sudden Christmas was coming, got here and is gone. I was in a bah humbug mood for a while then I made myself get ready and then it was fun with Kamryn and Trentin. It was priceless to see their little faces on Christmas morning as they opened their gifts. Santa left Kamryn her doll house - that's all she wanted and she was thrilled. Trentin got every "big huck" (truck) they make, I think and he was beyond thrilled. The simple joy of getting something they asked for made it real for them. We went to Nola's for Christmas dinner and it was yummy. Too much food but oh how we enjoyed it. Jenna and Weston stay home for Christmas and may come for New Year's but who knows. Tad and Chelsea had Christmas with the Peterson's and celebrated Cache's 2nd birthday with the Geislers and Aylors. They had a busy day and then Tad had to leave and go back for work on Sunday.

I am blessed with a good family and wonderful friends. They made my Christmas. I was teary eyed more than once this holiday season. On Christmas Eve I went to town and the luminarias were up and down Main Street in both Springerville and Eagar. I LOVE this service.

The kids and I went out to eat on Thursday and then went to look at Christmas lights. Trentin loved "baby Cheesus" and everytime we saw the holy family he always pointed out baby cheesus. We talked about why we celebrate Christmas and hopefully that will be ingrained in them as they grow up.

I have loved looking out my kitchen window every night to see the star on Flat Top. I will be sad when it isn't lit anymore. It is one of the things I look forward to every year.

Hoping for a Happy New Year - it's coming soon!